Steering apparatus for automobile torpedoes.



No. 839,161. PATENTED DEG.25, 1906. P. M. LBAVITT.

STEERING APPARATUS FOR AUTOMOBILE TORPEDOES.

APPPIOATIOH FILED JAN-20. 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR: WITNESSES: l 1 $6! \[:q a By Jim/ways,

E. M. LEAVITT.

STEERING APPARAWS FOR AUTOMOBILE TORPEDOES.

APPLICATION FILED JAH.20.1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTORz' "Q: WITNESSES: 2 2 2 122 1%4, JZM Z Y A By Azzomeys, ,I x

PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906.

F. M. LBAVITT. STEERING APPARATUS FOR AUTOMOBILE TORPEDOBS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20,4906.

4 SHEETS-SB'EET 3.

Ili

WITNESSES: M

Amsamm. PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906.

F. M.. LEAVITT. STEERING APPARATUS FOR AUTOMOBILE TORPEDOBS.

APPLICATION PILED JAN.20.1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET INVENTOR:

WlTiJESSESI rrn srn AENT oniuen.

LEAVITT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASS lGNORTO E. W.' I3LISS OOMLIBANY, OF BROOKLYN. NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGlNIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1903.

Application filed January 20, 1906. Serial No. 296,992.

To all; whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, FRANK M. LEAVITT, a

' citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new'an'd useful Improvements in Steering Apparatus fonAutomobile Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gyroscopic steering mechanisms for automobile torpedoes. Its purpose is to more erfectly adapt the torpedo to what is too inically known as wideangle lire-that is to say, to enable the torpedo to be aimed in a direction dii'l'er- .ing by a wide angle from the course which it is designed to take, the steering mechanism being previously set to cause it to steer in a circle until it shall have com ensated for the which it should follow.

angle of divergence and reac ed its ultimate der that the sli htly sinuous course steered by the torpedo s iall not diil'er seriously from the straight-line course toward the target This normal dellcc tion of" the rudder determines the radius of the v circle in which. the torpedo may steer when the rudder is held hard over, the diameter of this circle being what is known as the tactical diameter of the torpedo. F or the best steering upon a normal course the tactical diameter is so large that in firing the torpedo at an angle widely divergent from its ultimate course the circular course on which it initially steers is of undesirably large radius, so that too much of its energy is wasted in traversing the initial circular course and the accuracy of aim is impaired by reason of the angle between its ultimate course and a direct line from its point of firing to the target being too great.

The object of the present invention is to decrease the tactical diameter of the torpedo during the time that it is steering its initial circular course and to restore the normal tactical diameter upon the termination of this initial course and the beginning of the ultimate direct course of the torpedo toward the target.

To attain this object, the present invention provides means whereby in setting the steer ing apparatus to steer through any angle of divergence from the line of fire it shall be exert a greater deflecting effect upon the torpedo than during the normal steering action, whereby to diminish the radius of the circular are through which the torpedo initially steers, or, in other words, to decrease its tactical diameter. With this is combined terminating the cllect of such initial steering means as soon as the torpedo shall have get, or, in other words, shall have headed upon its ultimate course, so that thereafter the deflecting effect of the steering a paratus shall be reduced to the normal, t erebv increasing the tactical diameter to that which gives the best results in normal steering.

Irvcarrying out this invention the normal steering apparatus is provided with'what for convenience will be called an angle-gear, which is brought into operation when the steering apparatus is set to o crate at an angle diverging from the line of ire and when so set is adapted to turn the rudder to the ap propriate side to a greater degree than that assumed by it when thrown hard over in normal steering. Other means of increasing the initial deflection of the torpedo'while steering the preliminary are or circular course willbe within the present invention; but the sim- -plest and most desirable means is that stated,

increased to a considerable extent during the:. steering of this preliminary circular course.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a dingrai'n showing a torpedo in the act of launching and its course toward its target. Fig. 2 a diagram of the torpedo, on a larger scale, showing its gyroscope and showing diagrammatically a means for angular displacement. Fig. 2, but showing the torpedo headed upon its ultimate course. in horizontal section, showing a suitable form of the mechanism for carrying out the 5 present invention. Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing a gyro cope-support and turntable pertaining to the angle-gear.

a sectional plan, being a fragment of 4-,

Fig. 7 is a similar View showing the parts in reached a position in alincment with the tar- Fig. 3 is a similar diagram to Fig. 4 is a plan, partly Fi 6 is,

showing the parts in a diilerent position.

caused while steering through such angle to means under the control of the gyroscope for wherein the normal deflection of the rudder is in line with the target, but diverges there from at a considerable angle, it is necessary that the torpedo when launched shall first steer throu h a circular course or initial are to until it is ieaded toward the target, whereupon it follows its ultimate course I), which. is a tangent to the are a. I

."In Figs. 2 and 3 the torpedo is shown on a larger scale, and in it is shown of dispropon.

tionate size its gyroscopic fly-wheel E. in the act of launching, this wheel is spun up to a high velocity, with its axis x in a direction having a fixed reference I to' the ultimate course I). For exam is, the axis a: may coincide with the axis 0 the launching-tube,- so as to vary by a iye'n, but variable, number of degrees from t 'e ultimate course I). For example, let it be assumed that the divergence in a given case is fixed at one hundred degrees. Then by turning a ring or turntable F in the, contrary direction through the same number of. degrees as indicated in Fig.2, so that its axis a diverges one hundreddegrees from the fly-wheel axis, the torpedo must'with a suitably-constructed steer ing apparatus steer through thesame number'o'i degrees, so as to bring the axis a; into coincidence with the axis at, as shown in Fig. 3, whereupon, the torpedo having reached its ultimate course, it is required to steerno 'lon' er in an are, but in asubstantially straig t line toward the target. .As already explained, it is desirable that the initial'arc a be of as shortradius as recticable in order to avoid loss of time ano'waste ofenergy andto avoid also the occurrence of too great an angle between the ultimate course I) and a direct line from the firingp'oint to tlie target.

Fig.1 shows in dotted lines an initial are a and an ultimate course I), which may beassumed'to be such as would be steered if the steering apparatus exerted the same deflectin" moment during the steering through the initial are that it does or should uponxthe normal steering upon a substantially straight course. It is to be understood that owing to the want of space a'ii'orded for such a diagram the relation between the course shown by the dotted line s b and that shown by the full line a l) is somewhat disproportionate or exaggerated. Nevertheless the .diagram 3' will serve to illustrate in principle the'loss'of sealer time and energy involved in traversing an are a of lar e radius as compared with an are a, of small recurs and also the inaccuracy of aim involved by reason of the ultimate course 3/ by a wider angle from the" direct line of sight toward the target than" does the ultimate course I).

@ne suitable means for giving the steering apparatus a greater deflecting moment while traversing the initial arc than subsequently is by causing to turn the rudder to a greater angle. For example, assuming the normal r;

deflection of the rudder when hard over on either side to be twenty degrees (see Fig. 3) from the longitudinal axis, the rudder maybe set over to a greater angle say fortyde grees (see Fig. '3)-while traversing the initial arc. To enable the means for accomplishing this to be unders toml, a suitable form of gyroscopic steering apparatus to which my present invention is applicable will described with reierencefi-tb Figs. 4. and 5. Let G designate as a whole the gyroscope, the fiy-wheel E of wln'ch. has been. already referred to. The means for initially spinning up the gyroscope not shown, being well understood. Such a gyroscope includes inner and outer gimbal-rings c d, the former pivoted to the latter u ion a horizontal axis transverse to the ily-w ieel axis, the outer ring be ing pivoted upon a vertical axis in a fixed frame a. The precise construction of the gyroscope is immaterial to the present inven tion. The gyroscope controls in any suitable manner a steering device H, which may, for example, be a steering-engine or servomotor driven by compressed air, such as is well known in the Whitehead torpedo. This steering-engine through any suitable connection operates the rudder l1. Preferably the steering-engine engages through a rod J, which may its pistonrod, with a lever K fulcrume'd at L and having its opposite or free end connected by a rod M to the tiller-l which controls the rudder. The valve ll of the steering-engine is operated under control of the gyroscope by any suitable intercom necting means such, for example, as a double solenoid O O, the core P of which is connected by a rod. or otherwise to the valve. The solenoid-coils 0 O are connected, respectively, through conducting wires or circuits 1 and'2 to conducting-segnu-mtsff, which are swept by a contact arm or spring g, which is carried by the outer ring (1 of the gyroscope,

carried upon a part or ring F, having nor mally a stationary relation to the hull of the tor edo. It results that when the torpedo is so efiected relatively to the axis of the gyroscope fly-wheel the spring 9 touches one or other of the contact strips or segments f or f the circuit is closed through one or other of the active is soils O, and the coil thus energized. attracts the core P and moves the valve to operatethe steering-engine, which turns the rudder iii-such direction as Wlll steer .the torpedo to port or starboard, as the case may be, until the opposite segment f orf is moved around into contact with the spring 9, which by reason of the persistence of direction of'Tlfe gyroscope-axis remains substantially immovle, whereupon the coil 0 or 0 previously deener' ized and the other coil is ene1gizcd and attracts the core to it, thereby shifting the valve and causing the engine to throw the rudder to the opposite side. This 18 the normal action of a, steering-engine of this type in steering alternately to port and starboard in order to direct the torpedo upon a slightly sinuous course, crossing and recrossing a straight line constituting its theoretical or approximate course toward the target. The mechanism thus described is an old and well-known steering mechanism and forms no necessary part of my present invention, but is here illustrated because it affords a'suitable apparatus to which to apply this -'invention and by which it may be readily understood. With such a gyroscopic steering mechanism it has been proposed to cause the torpedo to steer through an initial arc, such as a, Fig. 1, by initially turning the ring or turn-table F, carrying the contactsegment's f in a direction. contrary to that which the torpedo is to steer-and through as.

many degrees as it is to turn in traversing it results from this that at the moment of launching the contact-spring g touches one of the segments f or f at a point remote from the zero-point 71 between the approaching ends of the segments by as many degrees as the displacement of the ring F and that consequently the steering apparatus will hold the rudder hard over to the appropriate side in order to steer the torpedo through such initial arc. While traversing such initial arc the torpedo is turned. con stantly to port or starboard, carrying with it the ring F, while by reason of the persistence of direction of the gyroscope its axis continues to point in the original direction, so that the spring 9 does not turn. This condi; tion continu es until the segment 7 or f passes out of contact with the spring 9 upon the arrival of the zero-point h in coincidence therewith, (this being the position shown in Fig. 4,) at which point. the torpedo is headed upon its ultimate course, as indicated in Fig. 3. In stantly thereafter the opposite segment contacts with the spring 9, and the op osite solenoid O or O is energized, thereby t owing the rudder to the opposite side and terminating the steering upon the initial arc. After this instant the torpedo steers in the normal manner upon its ultimate course, such as b", Fig. 1.

Fig. 4, where the fulcrum- The present invention may now be understood. It being desirable for reasons already explained to diminish the tactical radiu's'of the initial arc,the torpedo is given an increased steering moment or tendency while traversingthis-initial arc. This increased moment is most conveniently accom lished by giving the normal steering rudder an increased deflection. For example, if the normal deflection is twenty degrees to either side of the longitudinal axis of the torpedo its deflection during the initial arc may be increased, say, to forty degrees. The means shown for accomplishing-this is a shifting of the fulcrum-point L, on which thelever K turnspJl-his fulcrum-point is shown in full lines in its normal or central position in Fig. 4 and is displaced therefrom in the ap ropriate direction to the points indicated by the dotted circles LL as the case maybe. displacement throws the lever K to a greater angle, so that itsfree end connecting with the steering-rod M is carried farther from the central point, and thereby turns the rudder to a, greater angle. placed in Fig. 6.

The direction of displacement of the fulcrum-point L depends upon the direction to which the lever is thrown by the steer ing-engine H-tl1at is to say, if the steering-engine has moved the lever to steer to starboard the fulcrum-point L is displaced in the opposite direction to L in order to increase the deflection of the lever K and throw the rudder farther to starboard. This displacement of the ful crum-point may be variously accomplished. Preferably it is performed by a connection with the ring or turn-table F, so that the turning of this ring or turn-table to cause the torpedo to steer through an initial arc to either port or starboard automatically determines the appropriate displacement of the fulcrumpoint IJ. This is best accomplished by means of a cam formed or provided on or connected This 8 5' The lever is shown thus'diso with the ring F and having some suitable me:

chanical or other equivalent connection with the fulcrum-point. A simple and suitable mechanism for performing these functions is that shown. The ring F is shown as provided with a cam-surface'i, engaging an antifrictionroller j, carried, preferably, by an arm or lever k, which may have a spring k pressing it against the cam, this lever ,being connected by an arm Z with a slide m, which carries the fulcrum-point L. 'When the ring F is in its normal position, an intermediate portion 6 of the cam-face i isin contact with the roller j, and the position of the parts is that shown in oint L is in its nor mal or intermediate position. The dis lacement of the ring F to either port or star oard carries a higher or lower portion 7 or 8 of the cam-surface into contact with the roller thereby displacing the lever is either inwardly or outwardly and cominunipat ing a corresponding dis lacement through the parts l? Zm to the in cru in-point, thereby displacing it in one direction or the other to the position L" or If, as the case may be. It is shown thus displaced to the position L in Fig, 6. This displacement is accomplished against the stress of a spring n, which tends to restore the slide mto its inerinediate position. This spring may conveniently act against washers n at opposite ends, which washers are engaged byrcduced portions or shoulders on the slide and by the faces of the supporting slideways or, brackets o 0, through which the slide moves.

The mechanism last described is adapted to increase the deflection of the rudder, and thereby steer initial arc of diminished radius; but it would. derauge the normal steering action if means were not provided for terminating its operation as soon as the steering throu h the initial arc has been accomplished and the torpedo is headed upon its ultimate ceursc I). To accomplish this, some means must be provided for disconnesting the part carrying the fulcrum L from the cam i, pertaining to the ring or turn-table F. A convenient means for accomplishing this disconnection is that shown, \Vl'lGIG the arm l'may be disengaged from the slide m 11")011 the rerooint h of the turntable coinciding with the spring 9 of the igyroscope. This discoimection may be variously accomplished; but a simple and convenient means is throu h an electromagnet p, the armature p of which is mounted on the arm 3, the latter being normally pressed away from the magnet by a retracting-spring c. The arm Z may engage the slide m by having a tooth Z entering a notch in the slide, as shown. The magnet 19 has its coil in a circuit connecting through wire 9 with the battery-4 and through Wires 10 and 11 with a contact-segment 12, carried by the ring and with which contacts an arm or spring 13, carried by the ring (1 of the gyroscope, the contacts 12 and 13 being in such position that they touch when the contactspring 51 coincides with the zero-point h. It results that in this 9 i0 11 12 13 is closed,'energizing the magnet 7), which draws back the arm Z so as to disconnect it from the slidem, as shown in l-hgf 7. Thereupon the spring n presses ;5 back the slide to its normal or central position, thereby restoring the normal position of the fulcrum L 'and adapting the steering apparatus for steerin normally upon the ultimate course I). fith such an electroo magnetic means for restoring the fulcrum to its normal position itis desirable in order to avoid waste of electric energy to provide for breaking the circuit to the magnet p as soon as it has done its work. This may be 5 accomplished by a circuit-breaking spring position the circuit 3 4.

, nearer 14, having a project-loner hump l5, engagedby a cam projection 16 on the slide m so as to press the spring 14 away from its contactpoint '17. Upon the original displacement of the slide m by the ac tion of the cam i its projection 16 moves out of'coincidencewith angle-gear is not set for operation-that is to say, when the ring F has its zero-point h in its normal position coinciding with the contact spring g, so, that the torpedo when launched will steer a straightcourse ahead.

After the run ofithe torpedo it is necessary to move its ring F back to its normal position so as to bring the cam portion 6 against the wheel j and move the arm Z to its central position,'so that its tooth Z may reengage the notch in the slide m, after which the ring F may be turned in either direction in order 9 to reset the angle-gear for steering an initial arc in the desired direction before again launching the torpedo. Instead of causing the angle-gear to give the increased steering moment by increasing the deflection of the rudder, the increased steering moment may be accompi' fined by other means. An e13:- ample thereof is shown in Fig. 8, where the lever K is operated. solely from the steeringengine H, turning around a fixed fulcru1npoint K and through. a rod M and tiller N, steering the rudderl, this being the normal steering apparatus, while for steering in the initial are a separate rudder I is provided which may be larger than the rudder I or may be turned to a greater angle and is operated ,by the angle-gear by means of the same slide m, carrying the movable fulcrum L, which acts through an-auxiliary lever K rod M, and tiller N to turn the supplemental rudder I. At the termination of the initial arc and at the instant when the rudder I swings over to the oppo site side the release of the slide m in the manner already described moves the fulcrum L to its central position and through the lever K rod M, and tiller N moves the rudder I to its central or midships position, as shown in dotted lines, and holds it there during the remainder of the run of the torpedo. The advantage of the mechanism first described is that it accomplishes the desired result more simply, requiring only one gudder, one lever, and one intermediate connection instead of two. i

the sprim mtermediation may be used. For example, the mechanical tappet device set forth in my gear,'and means for terminating the action of said angleear upon completingsaid de- 5 5 .termined ang e, whereby to free the gyro- ".f'its normal tactical are upon said ultimate may be greatly varied without departing ,such modification is shown in Fig. 9, where ing, respectivelyiltoes 20 and 21 of a three- 10 auxiliary angle-gear adapted to be set to a preliminary to its steering preliminary to its steering on its ultimate course b iscopic steering-gear a apted normally to turn the rudder to a prescribed degree to ifsteerthe torpedo in a given. tactical arc and having anauxiliary angle-gear adapted to be ,se't toa determined angle to cause the tor- 1 The details'of the, mechanisms described from the inven'tipn. For example, other forms of cam may is used in placeof the cam 't with its successive faces 6, 7, and 8. One

the ring F has camribs 18- 19 extending in arcs of circles of difierent radius and engagarmed lever W, t e upper arm 22 of which is jointed to the arm Z, before described. The parts are shown in Fig. 9 inthe normal or intermediate position. In place of the steering-engine H an othersteering apparatus maybe employs An example of one such apparatus is set forth in my United States Patent No. 785,425, dated March 21, 1905.

The present invention is not limited to the use of electrical means for enabling the gyroscope to control the steering apparatus. Any known or suitable substitute for an electric United States Patent No. 795,045, dated Jul 18', 1905, may be applied in connection wit the present invention for enabling the gyroscope to control the steering-engine.

I claim as my invention 1. An automobile torpedo having a gyroscopic steering-gear adapted normally to steer it in a given tactical arc, and having an determined angle tocause the torpedo to steer on an initial are through such angle on its ultimate course by said gyroscopic steeringgear, combined with means for steering the torpedo in a tactical arc of smaller radius than the normal while under control of said an legear, whereby the torpedo is more quid l zly roughtto its ultimate course.

2. An automobile to edo having a gyroscopic steering-gear .a apted normally to steer-it in 'a given tactical'arc, and having an auxiliary anglegear adapted to be set to a deter-mined ang e to cause the torpedo to steer on an initial are through such angle said gyroscopic steering gear, combine with means for steering the torpedo in a tactical arc of smaller radius than the normal while under'control of said anglescopic steering-gear and cause it to steer in course;

.3.-,. An.automobile to edo having a gyropedo to steer on an initialarc through such angle preliminary to, its steering on its ultimate course b said gyroscopic steering-gear, combined wit meansfor turning the rudder to a greater degree than the normal While under control of said angleear.

4. An automobile, torpedb having "a gyroscopic steermg-gear adapted normally to turn the rudder to a prescribed degree to steer the torpedo in a given tactical arc and-having an auxiliary angle-gear adapted to be set to a determined angle to cause the torpedo to.

steer on an. initial are through such angle preliminary to its steering on its ultimate course by said g'yroscopic steering-gear, combined with. means for turning the rudder'to a greater degree than the normal while under centrol of said angle-gear, comprising a lever through which the steering movements are-- communicated to the rudder, and means for displacing the fulcrum of said lever.

5. An automobile torpedo having a gyroscopic steering-gear adapted normally to steer it in a given tactical arc, and having an auxiliary anglegear- 'compris ing an adjustable tiu'n-table adapted to be set to a determined angle and to cause the torpedo to Steer on an initial are through such angle preliminary to its steering on its ultimate course I) said gyroscopic steering gear, combined wit meand for steerin the torpedo in a tactical arc of smaller ra ius than the normalwhile under control of said angle-gear, such means comprising cam-surfaces on said turn-table, and intermediate coisperative mechanism for displacing the rudder to port or starboard upon the displacement of said turn-tablefrom its normal position.

- An automobile tor edo having a gyrosccpic steering-gear 'a apted normally to steer it in a given tactical arc, and having an auxiliary angleear adapted to be set to a determined .ange to cause the torpedo to steer on an initial are through such angle preliminary to its steering on its ultimate course by said gyroscopic steering-gear, combined with means for steering the torpedo in a tactical arc of smaller radius than the normal while under control of said angle-gear, comprising a lever through which movement is communicated to the rudder, camsurfaces in connection with said an le-gear adapted on the setting thereof to disp ace the fulcrum of said lever and thereby deflect said rudder, and means acting upon the completion of the initial are for restoring said fulcrum to its normal position.

In witnesswhereol I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscriomg ICC 

